In truth, we should all be very grateful for Heidi Heitkamp, Joe Manchin, and so-called "DINOs".

[wildeyed]

13. It would be way more effective to put that energy into developing local & state progressives

in those states. If you build the party from the bottom and develop strong progressive leaders who also have a relationship with their constituents, it will go better than coming in and dictating who is and is not an acceptable representative of their state.

Bottom line, those places are just more socially conservative than most. Best case, you get economically liberal leadership that expresses support for conservative social values but doesn't act out on them, IMO. I wish progressives who want to dictate who is acceptable leadership in these states would actually spend some time there and get to know people a bit.